For once I have to disagree with Loren. :) My 94 Mazda used to eat axles, I had no better experience with OE versus bottom of the barrel. (I understand I'm comparing Mazda OE to Mercedes OE, but yours broke in 77k.) There was an axle shop that did boots only if there was no noise, can't say I ever was able to try that but it was a bit cheaper. That would let you keep OE too.
Mazda axles were in the $200-$500 range installed in 97-200x (two hours book, the axle specialist only charged one). I'm sure there's more to do on yours but 4500 is a little faster than inflation... Best, Tim On Apr 20, 2013 1:46 PM, "Dieselhead" <126die...@gmail.com> wrote: > Not sure about a car this new, but in general, (For the cars from 86 > through ~2000) the OE axles are what you want. > > If you can't see cracks in the boots, I would not worry about them. It is > normal to have some weeping of the grease through the boot ends. If the > boots are cracked or near cracking, new boots can be put on. I would run > the original axles until they are noisy or broken. > > As for the spring, it is not a terribly difficult DIY repair. Replace both > rear springs at the same time. Used Springs should be available via > car-part.com ~100/pair or less. New through Q jr. may not be much more > than that. > > > > Hi Guys, >> >> >> I Took my 2004 E320 4matic (77K) to a local dealership that was >> having a "Service Clinic" for MBCA members in Westchester, New York. >> >> They found two issues: >> >> - Left Rear Spring was cracked the mechanic said he could see the car >> was leaning left and the crack was in the lower section which was not >> visible to me on the lift. >> >> - Front outer axle boots were leaking and the axles needed replacing. >> >> >> The estimate for the repairs were $4508.80 to replace the front axles and >> $800 for the rear springs!!!!!!!!!!!!! >> >> >> The axle boots appeared to have grease around the area but I saw no >> obvious cracks. I got online and found replacement axles for around $250 >> each in addition to genuine Mercedes Replacement boots for $85 per pair. >> Anyone have experience replacing the axles or just the boots. Should only >> genuine Mercedes Axles be used? How bad a job is it? I am still having no >> luck finding a repair manual. >> >> >> Any thoughts on the spring replacement? >> >> >> Lastly I asked him about a malfunction message I receive when I set the >> instrument panel to the correct year, month and day. The malfunction keeps >> reading "Main Inspection Performed on Time?". When I set the year back to >> 2000 the message disappears (I don't know why that works). At first they >> never heard of the issue so I set it to the correct day, year and month and >> the malfunction message appeared. Then another technician said to fix it >> involves programming which takes over an hour because this message is a >> reminder that a New York Inspection is due, the dealerships have capability >> not independent shops. Anyone have a similar issue? Does any of this make >> and sense? >> >> >> >> Any comments appreciated. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Thanks in advance. >> Bob >> >> >> >> >> >> ______________________________**_________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >> To search list archives >> http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/<http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/> >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com<http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com> >> > > > ______________________________**_________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives > http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/<http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/> > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com<http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com> > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
